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Butler feeling positive vibes after multi-hit day

4/19/14: Billy Butler slaps a double to right field to tally his first extra-base hit of the 2014 season

By Dick Kaegel
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MLB.com |

KANSAS CITY -- This is what Royals fans have been waiting to hear from Billy Butler: "I'm feeling better."

After a worrisome and completely uncharacteristic period early in the season, Butler is showing positive signs of regaining his old flair at the plate.

In the series finale at Houston, he snapped an 0-for-21 skid. Then, a solid line drive to right field for a single came just ahead of Mike Moustakas' home run in the 5-0 victory over the Twins on Friday night. Then, in Saturday's 5-4 win, Butler had his first two-hit game and his first extra-base hit, a double.

"I swung at all the right pitches today, took the right pitches and got my first multi-hit game," Butler said. "I've just got to build on that."

His average went up to .193.

The double helped ignite the Royals' decisive five-run inning on Saturday and it was a solidly-hit drive that the Twins thought right fielder Chris Colabello should have caught.

"I hit it pretty good. I'm not saying that he couldn't have caught it, but I put the barrel on it, drove it that way, and that gives me a little bit of confidence," Butler said. "Because that's my game, going that way."

Butler turned 28 on Friday, but he delayed his celebration until after Saturday's game. He and Royals fans will have even more cause to celebrate if his production continues to spike.

"I can come to the park each day knowing that I'm going to bust out of it eventually," Butler said. "I feel like I'm getting there and had some really good at-bats. Most importantly, the team won, we've won five in a row and we're on a roll."

Dick Kaegel is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.